Top 3 managers in England of all time

[Gandahar]

Domestic and international, international country and club, who do you rate our best 3 managers over all that time?

[so called]

For what my opinion is worth.
1, SAF. - Hard to argue against.
2, SMB. - Phoenix from the ashes.
3, Bill Shankly. - His contribution to Liverpool was fantastic, as was their football during his time.
Bob Paisley - Perpetuated Shankly's philosophy but even more successful.
Brian Clough - I wasn't a fan but he was brilliant.
Jose Mourinho - Still climbing.
Arsene Wenger - Great football but tailed off in the last few years.


I guess its a bit obvious I'm a United fan.

[HappySilver]

1. Brian Clough - to do what he did with Derby and Forest is a far greater achievement than what others have done with bigger clubs when you take into account the respective resources available to them.
2. SAF - to be at the top for so long, he knew when to get rid of players at just the right time to both build and keep things fresh.
3. Shanks - similar to Clough in many ways but had much greater resources available to him.

[TaylotS2K]

I think you've got Shankly and Paisley around the wrong way.

Have you seen Paisley's trophy haul? Shankly doesn't come close.

[ABZ RS6]

No Sir Bobby Robson mentioned?

[anonymous-user]

TaylotS2K said:

I think you've got Shankly and Paisley around the wrong way.

Have you seen Paisley's trophy haul? Shankly doesn't come close.

That's true but Shankly (and Busby) dragged their clubs from nowhere to the very top.

I think SAF has got to come top through sheer weight of numbers but with the others it's all opinion. Shankly, Busby, Clough - all fascinating people.

[TwigtheWonderkid]

Brian Clough got Forest promoted to the top division in 3rd place. The next season he won the league, whilst Wolves and Chelsea who finished above him both went down. The next season he won the European Cup. And won it again the season after that.

That's just mental!

I don't care how many cups SAF and Paisley won. SMB winning the European cup 10 yrs after Munich was amazing too, but Clough is the winner.

[mr pg]

Ok as on one else has mentioned him, I'll add Bill Nic to the equation.
Football League First Division: 1960–61
FA Cup: 1960–61, 1961–62, 1966–67
Football League Cup: 1970–71, 1972–73
FA Charity Shield: 1961, 1962, 1967 (shared)
UEFA Cup: 1971–72
European Cup Winners' Cup: 1962–63
Broke records for fun along the way too.

[V8covin]

Clough was nothing without Peter Taylor

[TwigtheWonderkid]

V8covin said:

Clough was nothing without Peter Taylor

Finding a good assistant and being able to delegate is a plus, not a minus.

[aeropilot]

TaylotS2K said:

I think you've got Shankly and Paisley around the wrong way.

Have you seen Paisley's trophy haul? Shankly doesn't come close.

But Paisley wouldn't have been able to achieve any of that if it hadn't been for Shankly building the foundations.....and then deciding to quit out of the blue and earlier than anyone expected.


I'll put in a mention for Herbert Chapman, who probably did more to revolutionise football than any other manager, over such a short space of time.

[DubZeus]

Sir Bobby
Sir Alf
Sir Alex

[Brave Fart]

DubZeus said:

Sir Bobby
Sir Alf
Sir Alex

Agreed; greatest gentleman, greatest moment (World Cup 1966), greatest winner.